Andy Frasco, Denver, and DCI

     A few months back a musician, whose entrepreneurial spirit and passion I madly respect, posted a status on Facebook looking for horn players... Knowing that tuba wasn't what he was looking for, I sent him some videos anyway. I remember waiting for like three days for him to respond and eventually developing a "shit!! he wasn't diggin' it" feeling... BUT!!! He eventually got back to me and was like, "Yo! Meet me in Detroit. If this works out, I'm gonna have two horns from now on! Meet me in Detroit. Bring your pedals!"

     So, I drove my busted ass car with $50 in my pocket to Detroit... I thought at first that I wouldn't make it there... Something's going down with my back left tire, and it's most certainly going to fall off... So, the universe and the condition of the car both required that I drive less than 55 miles per hour, or the whole thing would rattle to hell and back. I remember thinking, "JUST MAKE IT TO F@&$ING DETROIT, CAR!!!" - Thankfully, It made it.

     When I pulled into Detroit, the first sign that I knew that I was doing the right thing was that my sweet sweet friends Carrie and Josh Bickley from Calliope Musicals were in town. If you haven't checked that band out, DO IT!!!!!! - They were camping in their sprinter van and just sort of scoping out the area.

     

Seeing these beautiful faces at the end of such a long drive was AWESOME!!! We just took a couple of shots of our favorite cheap whiskey, Evan Williams, smoked a few jazz cigarettes, walked around town, looked at the beautiful murals that Detroit has to offer, windowshopped in some art galleries, and just talked about life and music. These two have a beautiful passion and drive, and they're always always always a pleasure to be around!!!

After I hung with those beautifuls, I ventured on to my good friend Candice Macon's house. This was an awesome reuniting - It had been ten years since I had seen her and her son Cam... He went from 3 to 13 in the blink of a freaking eye... It really shows how quickly life can pass you by... She allowed me to park my car there and crash for the night... Where it still stays. Thank you, homie!!!

The next day, I woke up and hopped in a van with ^ These two guys! Pizza Steve (left) and Paul Bouchet (right) --- I had no idea what these characters were going to be like... At first, they came across as heady crunchy festy kids... I was right.. We road an hour to meet up with the rest of the Andy Frasco crew and just talked about shows. So far, it was feeling good.

When we met up with the crew, everyone welcomed me in right away. I could tell that this was an awesome group of dudes with a like mindset. They all just wanna skip the bullshit and work together to kick some ass in life.

One of the first shows I really remember was in Brooklyn - We were the backing band for a drunken spelling be at The Knitting Factory... And it was fucking AWESOME!!!

This entire tour has been an incredible eye opening experience... For the first time in my journey, I'm comfortable every day, I get to explore these towns on my own, I get to play great music, hang out with great dudes, and I'm learning a shit ton about entertainment.

For the first time in my life, I'm starting to really feel like I'm becoming the player I've always wanted to be... And to be honest, I have stories from the hard work... But I don't really remember it being that hard... It's only hard while you're doing it... For short bursts at a time... Just keep going, keep doing the impossible, and you can do some really really really cool stuff.

Also, GAY MARRIAGE WAS NATIONALLY LEGALIZED DURING THIS TOUR!!!!! Pizza Steve and Andy celebrated briefly in the back of the van.

The shows themselves have been full of absolutely amazing (and sometimes crazy) people... This environment is such a beautiful one. It's a gift to be able to watch music influence these people to go crazy night after night after night. Andy has that frontman gift!

I also like to check out Nature's beauty when we're touring around... The scenery throughout these drives and shows has been absolutely breathtaking... I found places that looked exactly like Windows Backgrounds.

It's always been a dream of mine to play Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but I had never been there. :( After our Denver show, my beautiful friend Carol took me to see the place!!! SO BEAUTIFUl!!!!

Red Rocks, Colorado

Red Rocks, Colorado

Then, we checked out Bear Park!

When we decided to leave Denver, I met back up with the band... They were cleaning the house of the people they had stayed with, and someone had mentioned maybe doing the dishes for Kory... I volunteered since I had just participated in the Colorado Freedom and was in the particular mindset to do so... I did this guy's dishes, and hopped in the van where I heard Pizza Steve talking about Kory Montgomery and his "real gig" --- I asked what Kory's "real gig" was, and Steve answered, "He's the guitarist for the Blues Brothers" ...... So, YOU OWE ME ONE, KORY!!!

The tour moved on - We ended it with two BANGING nights over the 4th of July in Ketchum, Idaho - The bar literally poured alcohol down our throats and the crowd raged and raged and raged. It was an amazing experience to say the least. Best 4th yet!!!

THEN!!!! I got a week and a half off in Denver and did ALL THE THINGS!!!

^ First, I played Mario Kart with my best bud and trombone extraordinaire Evan Johnson!!

Then I met up with my best bud Reddock Davenport!!!

Then, I ate a bombin' breakfast at The Denver Biscuit Company!!!

Then, Stan Renda and Lauren Nall showed up and hung with me and the most beautiful Carol Churchill!!!

Then, I got this sweet pen at a Colorado Dispensary! Ahhhh. Freedom!!!

Then, I saw Dinosuar Footprints at Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado!

And dinosaur bone!

And then, randomly, I found out that my drum corps is rehearsing 30 miles away from me... So, I HAD to go see Spirit of Atlanta while they were at Brighton!!!!

And then, I couldn't NOT go to the show, right?!?!

Exhausted from all the sun and drum corps, we decided to go to the farmer's market the day after the show and stock up on some samples and fresh veggies!!! This is one of the best farmer's markets I've ever been to!!! SO MUCH GOOD STUFF!!!!

Last night, I begin winding down my break by checking out the sunset at Buntown... Which is a creepy parked with tons of abandoned Pleasantville-esque houses running rampant with bunnies.. It was truly an amazing place...

I've had the freaking time of my LIFE!!!!!

I've got a few dates left with Andy, then I'm off to teaching High School kiddos. :):) - See you all on the other side!